Daniel Ricciardo fined for pit lane error at Silverstone

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JUNE 28: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing looks on in the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 28, 2018 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Patrik Lundin/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

Daniel Ricciardo leaves England with a fine after the FIA pulled up a silly blunder from the Australian while competing at Silverstone over the weekend.

Ricciardo was clocked doing 83.8km/h upon his entry to the pit lane. The maximum speed for cars going into pit is 80km/h during Grand Prix’s.

The Aussie Red Bull driver was fined 400 euros, approximately $640, for the slip-up. Ricciardo finished fifth at Silverstone, putting him at fourth on the driver’s standings midway through the 2018 season.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel landed a blow in the Formula One world championship by winning rival Lewis Hamilton’s home British Grand Prix in a dramatic Silverstone race.

Hamilton started his Mercedes badly from pole position and was hit by the other Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen as he tried to cling on to third. He fell to 16th but recovered to second, ahead of Raikkonen who completed the podium. Vettel in contrast was rewarded for a brilliant start in which he overtook Hamilton within metres on the opening straight.

Whoops.Source:Getty Images

A late move on Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, after two safety cars, then confirmed his 51st career victory. It was championship leader Vettel’s fourth win of the season and extends his advantage over Hamilton from one point in the standings to eight after 10 season races.

“Thanks to the team for supporting me and also the people in the background because yesterday I was a bit damaged but much better today,” Vettel said in first interviews.

“I was a bit concerned (about my neck injury) going into the race but I was fine … The neck held up and that was a race I enjoyed a lot and I think the people enjoyed a lot.” Hamilton started on a high after a dazzling final lap on Saturday brought pole position.

But like in Austria week ago he soon ran into trouble and his hopes of a record- breaking race were immediately over.

A fifth consecutive home victory would have beaten Jim Clark’s streak of four and his sixth win overall would have moved him beyond Clark and Alain Prost’s record of five.

A slow start cost him places to Vettel and Bottas before Raikkonen ran into his rear and was given a 10-second time penalty.

“It was my mistake, so that’s fine,” Raikkonen said.

“I deserved it but kept fighting.” Lapping well around the 5.891-kilometre course, Hamilton soon moved into the points and was 25 seconds off Vettel by lap nine, with the German five seconds ahead of Bottas at the front.

Vettel has emerged the clear victor from F1’s first-ever triple header of races having led Hamilton by a point going into the French GP on June 24. He lost ground by finishing fifth there, while Hamilton won, but has outscored the Brit 40-18 in the last two outings.

The pair hold four world titles each and going into his home German GP on July 22, Vettel is suddenly clear in the race for number five.

Hamilton was visibly frustrated at the end and skipped his pre-podium interview. “This is the greatest race of the year and the greatest crowd, I am sorry I could not bring it home for you today. I will not give up, believe me, I will not give up,” he said later.

“My team did an amazing job this weekend, we got so much support. Interesting tactics I would say from their side, but we’ll do what we can to fight them.” After 10 events, Vettel leads the championship on 171 points, followed by Hamilton with 163 and Raikkonen with 116.

Ricciardo is fourth on 104 points, with Bottas sitting just two points below him.

There are still 11 races left in the season with the next at Hockenheim on July 22.